Hornets fans reach attendance goals to preserve lease

If the Hornets eventually do leave New Orleans, it won’t be because their fans gave up on them.

Supporters of the NBA-owned team reached attendance goals that prevent the team from breaking its lease with the New Orleans Arena. The lease runs through 2014.

“The New Orleans Hornets have met their attendance benchmark for this season, meaning they’re staying for another season,” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Monday. “We asked the people to pack the Hive to keep the Hornets right here in New Orleans, and they’ve done exactly that.”

The benchmark doesn’t guarantee the team will stay in New Orleans, it just makes it tougher for a future owner to make a quick exit.

NBA commissioner David Stern has said he is seeking a local ownership group to keep the team in the Crescent City, but he will place a premium on finding stable ownership.

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer are both thought to be interested in buying an NBA team and moving it to San Jose or Seattle, respectively. Ellison said he tried to buy the Hornets last year but was rebuffed by the league. The NBA later purchased the team from majority owner George Shinn.

If the team is sold to an out-of-town owner, it could finish out its lease before leaving or negotiate a settlement similar to the one Clay Bennett brokered with the city of Seattle before moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City.